Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-03-27
A GRAVE PROBLEM.
TOUCHING THE VITAL SPOT IN
OUR FORM or GOVERNMENT.

When our reputation shhii ne Num-
bsred Among the Hundred Miliions9
A Serious Matter.
Sunset Cox once said that a greater and
a graver problem than that Of taxes and
finance was sure to arise In the future,
and a future not very far of, and it is q
question that touches the vital spot in our
form of government. That is the ques-
ton of apportionment. The apportion-
ment upon which the present house of
representatives is based is the work MAIN
ly Of Mr.. Cox, and he spent many weeks
In most assiduous labor in preparing the
bill. II looks very easy, but II is NOT. All
you have got TO do Is to decide how many
people shall be entitled to a representative,
and then divide the total population OF
each state by this figure. That will give
the number Of representatives each state
is entitled to. But the trouble is to fix
the ratio. II is a growing trouble, and il
Is going TO be very difficult. Mr.. Cox in
deed is disposed to think that it may be-
come a very dangerous trouble, and due TO
the fact that some time or other, not many
generations hence, the population Of the
United States will be numbered among the
100, OO0, 900. There won't be any trouble
about raising crops enough to feed 1000
600, 900 in this country. The whole popu-
lation, 81, 600 by the census Of 1880,
might be placed in the state Of Texas and
not be crowded any more than the people
Of Great Britain are crowded. But when
our population passes 100, OOO,O 600 one Of
two things must happen. Either the mum.
Der OF the members Of the house OF repre-.
sentativcs must be increased 10 an alb
surdly large figure, or the smaller states
and those whose population shows the
least percentage Of increase must see their
representation in the house constantly
dwindling away. Mr.. Cox, in 1880, was
obliged TO cut down the number of repre-
sentatives in Vermont, New Hampshire
and Maryland. Nevada wouldn't have
had any representative but for the consti-
tutional provision guaranteeing each state
one, and il the ratio had been a few thou
sands larger Delaware would, but for the
constitution, have lost its single repre-
sentative.
Mr.. Cox's first idea was 10 fix the num-
Der upon which representation is based at
a larger figure than that adopted, but the
rebellious protests from states which
would thereby lose a representative or
two were so great that he did not do IL.
Yet il is found that the present member.
ship Of the house, 1926, is too large, both
for convenience and for efficiency in trans.
acting business. Motions have already
been made to remove the desks and seat
the members, as in the English parlia-
ment, on benches. II at the next appor.
tionment, which follows the census taken
three years hence, the number Of repre-.
sentatives is increased, congress will be
Obliged either to enlarge the present cham.
Der Of the house or huddle the members
together on benches. Mr.. Cox is inclined
TO think that there will be needed in the
congress that follows that census the high.
est qualities of prudence and statesman.
ship, in order TO prepare an apportion'
ment bfll that will stand the least chance
Of becoming q law. One thing is certain
If the present ratio is retained the house
will number between 400 and 800 mem,
bers; while, on the other hand, If the nun
Der which makes the basis is increased
many Of the older states will lose repre-.
sentatives: to only one or two will be al
lotted any increased number, while the
new states in the Mississippi valley will
in any event have greatly increased rep
resentation. IL is estimated that the pop.
ulation in 1890 will he found TO be be.
tween 65, 600, 600 and 6s. 000, 600, a greater
number than any republic ever had,
greater number than any limited or con
stitutional monarchy now has. At least
20 per cent. of this increase will be found
beyond the Mississippi and 80 per cen Of
il beyond the Alleghanies.
II, then, il be decided that no state Is
10 lose its present number Of represents
tives, the number OF members in the next
house will be 450 approximately. New
York. Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
would gain-New York two, probably,
the other two states one, possibly; but II
is probable that not another state east OF
the Allegbenies, with the poss' ole excep.
ton Of Georgia, would gain a single one
Of the 1875 new members, Nor would
there be any great gains in any Of the
states east Of the Mississippi. IL is prob
able that from 90 to 100 Of these new
members would be apportioned to tn,
great states west Of the Mississippi. Texa,
would press New York very hard as tn,
state having the largest representation
Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Iowa, Min
nesota and Dakota, in admitted, would
gain al increased representation Of from
40 TO 60 per cent, and Oregon, California
and Washington, IL IL is admitted, would
rival many Of the older states in the mum
Der OF their representatives.
But IL will be difficult 10 induce any
annagraaA IN nagu nm Unartinnman hill
fixing the number Of new members at q
larger figure than $50. Should that mum
Der he selected IL would fix the ratio OF
representation approximately at one for
each lsj, 900 Of population. This would
certainly very greatly reduce the represen.
tation of the older states, and, If the mum
Der Of members be kept at the present
figure C325l, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, Florida and Nevada would
pc represented by only one member each.
Maine, Connecticut and Maryland by
three; and IL is doubtful IL a single state
east Of the A~lleghanies would gain a mem
Der. Since the ensus OF 1910 the states
on the Atlantic slope have steadily lost.
New York once had AZ members, Massa'
chusetts ~, Virginia 20, Maine :, Connec'
ticut 8: but though the population Of nom
Of these states has decreased, and the total
population is more than twice as great as
IL was in 1910, and the number Of mem
bers Of the house more than four times az
many AS were in the First congress, YET
since 1870 every state on the Atlantic
slope has lost representation. And though
by the year 1900 our population will bt
not far from 80, O0O, 900, these states must
either submit 10 further losses or else the
house Of representatives must be consti,